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Children whose mothers ate more junk food during their pregnancy had a greater risk of having behavioral problems, including aggression and tantrums, than did those born to mothers who had a healthy diet, an Australian study showed. Unhealthy diet in the first years of life also was associated with increased odds of behavioral issues, depression and anxiety, Deakin University researchers reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

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A study found 39% of teens who had family based therapy to treat bulimia nervosa stopped binging and purging after a six-month treatment program, compared with 20% of those who had cognitive behavioral therapy, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The study leader said parents should be actively involved in the treatment of children and teens with eating disorders.

Norwegian researchers said a study of dietary patterns from birth through age 5 found children who ate more unhealthy foods had more behavior problems -- such as anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity -- than those who had a healthier diet. The study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also linked fewer behavior problems in children to mothers who ate a healthier prenatal diet.

Older people who had high anxiety levels before heart surgery were five times more likely to experience major morbidity or mortality than those without anxiety, a prospective study found. Researchers looked at 148 seniors, 7% of whom manifested high preoperative anxiety. The findings appear in The American Journal of Cardiology.

U.S. researchers surveyed the parents of about 1,500 preschoolers and found that fewer than 10% of them reported that their children had daily temper tantrums. Most parents in the study did say that their children had outbursts from time to time. The findings appear in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

New research shows that while most temper tantrums are part of normal childhood behavior, tantrums that are long, frequent or aggressive may be signs of future depression or disruptive disorders. Parents of children with these types of tantrums should seek help from their health care providers, says a study author.